Switch assembly



Patented Jan. 29, 1953 SWITCH ASSEMBLY Ralph E. Chute, Quincy, Mass,assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Application September 8, 1950, Serial No.183,784

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to switches, and has particularreference to a plunger operated electric switch assembly of the typeadapted for assembly into automobile door frames and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly which isprovided with means for receiving connecting members in snappingengagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly in whichconnector-receiving portions retained in a switch housing base areprovided with integral spring arm contact portions extending therefrominto the housing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch assemblyhaving a pair of spring arm contact members and a movable shorting ringdisposed. in a molded plastic housing in which the spring arm membersare retained in assembly with the housing by means of connectorreceivingportions disposed in apertures in the housing base.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, inpart, appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a switch embodying the features of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in elevation of the switch member of Fig. 1with the switch in the off position;

Fig. 3 is a view of the switch housing of Fig. 2 as seen from the rightend;

Fig. 4 is a view in section similar to Fig. 2 in which the switch is inthe on position; and

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a switch assembly H),which is adapted for assembly into an opening 12 in a supporting panelI5.

The switch assembly It comprises generally a hollow body l8, which ispreferably formed of a single piece of molded synthetic organic plastic;a pair of contact members 20 and 2| assembled with the housing; and anoperating plunger mechanism disposed in one end of the housing andextending therefrom.

The body I8 is provided with a base 24 at the end opposite the plunger,which has a pair of apertures 26 and 21 extending therethrough. Recesses28 and 29 are provided in one face of the base 25 adjacent the openingsand connecting thereto for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Aperipheral rim 30 is provided about the housing at the end opposite thebase to enable the housing to be engaged by an attaching cap 32 forsnapping assembly into the panel I4.

The contact members 20 and 2| comprise hollow connector-receivingportions 34 and 35 which are disposed in the apertures 26 and 2! in thebase, and spring contact arms 35 and 3'! which are integral therewithand extend into the interior of the body. The arms 36 and 31 aredisposed in spaced relation throughout their length, and are providedwith outwardly rounded contact portions 38 and 59 near the ends. Toretain the contact members in assembly with the housing, the connectorreceiving portions 34 and 35 are each provided with inner retaining tabs40 and M which are turned outwardly inside the body to bear against theinner face of the base 25, and outer retaining tabs 62 and 43 which areturned outwardly outside the housing to bear against the outer face ofthe base, and the outer tabs 42 and 43 are disposed in the recesses 28and 29 respectively to prevent rotation of the connector receivingportions in the apertures.

Connectors 44 for use with the switch housin are generally of the typewhich have a Wire 45 attached to one end, and a shoulder portion 46disposed therein, and hence the connector receiving portions 5 3 and 35are provided with internal shoulders 48 and 49 respectively for snappingengagement with the connector. The connector receiving portion may alsohave a 1ongitudina1 slot 55, to impart radial resilience thereto tofacilitate engagement and disengagement of the connector.

The operating plunger mechanism 22 comprises a hollow plunger 52 havinga flange portion 54 .disposed thereon inside the body l8, so that theplunger may be retained in assembly with the body by means of a splitring 56 disposed in an interior groove 58 in the body. A hollow shortineyelet 6D is assembled on the end of the plunger, and is adapted to passover the ends of the spring contact arms during operation of the switchto make electrical contact with both contact portions 38 and 39 tocomplete an electric circuit therebetween. An operating spring 62 isdisposed in the body l8, one end of which bears against a flange 64 onthe eyelet, and the other end bears against an insulating washer 65disposed against the base 24, so that the spring 62 continually urgesthe plunger mechanism 22 outwardly into the contact position.

In operation, the switch is normally in the off position, with theplunger held inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2 by the closure member I6,so that the eyelet 65 is disposed about the spring arms but out ofcontact therewith. When the closure member 16 is moved away from theswitch housing, the spring 62 forces the plunger out of the body, sothat the eyelet passes over the contact portions 38 and 39 to com letean electric circuit therebetween, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Theconnectors 44 are easily engaged and disengaged with the switchassembly, to facilitate assembly or repair operations on devices inwhich the switch is used.

The construction of the switch is particularly adapted to economicalassembly in great quantities, since the assembly operation is simple andthe component parts are easily produced onautomatic machinery.

Since certain obvious modifications mayv be made in the device withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmattercontained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

1. n an, e r c, w t h. a sembl m s n a hollow switch housing having abase at one end with; a pair ofspacedapertures, extending therehroc ensw i chlqp r n m s a he h r end including contact shorting means; a pairof connector members assembled with the housing, each comprising afemale connecting portion dis: posed in one of the apertures in the baseand extending longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever arm integralwith the connecting por tion and extending therefrom into the switchhousing, said cantilever arms being spaced in the housing 'so that acircuit may be completed theree w erl by s id. h r n me 2. In an,electric switch assembly, comprising a hollow switch housing formed of asingle piece of molded plastic, said housing having a relatively thickbase atone end with a pair of spaced apertures extending therethroughand switch operating means at, the other end including contact shortingmeans; a pair of connector members assembled in the housing, each ofsaid connector members comprising a female connecting portion disposedvin oneof the apertures to receive a cone hector inserted therein fromoutside the housing, and a spring contact arm integral with theconnector-receiving portion and extending therefrom into, the housing,said contact arms being disposed in spaced relation throughout theirlength and being so positioned that a circuit may be com pletedtherebetween by said shorting member.

3. An electric switch assembly as set forth in a hollow connectorreceiving portion disposed in" claim 1, in which said female connectorreceiving portion has means therein for snapping engagement with ashouldered connector.

4. An electric switch assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which saidfemale connector portion has outwardly extending integral retainingmembers disposed thereon on each side of the base to retain the contactmember in assembly therewith.

5. An electric switch assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which the baseis provided with recesses in'at least one face thereof which areadjacent to and connect with the apertures, and said femaleconnectorportion has integral retaining members disposed, therein whichextend outwardly into the re s 6. In an electric switch assemblycomprising a hollow switch housing, formed of a single piece ofmolded-synthetic organic plastic, said housing having a relatively thickbase at one end with a pair of spaced apertures extending therethrough;a pair of contact members assembled, in

the housing and switch operating means at the other endincludingcylindrical contact shorting means; each of said contact memberscomprising one of the apertures, and having means thereon inside theaperture for snapping engagement with a shouldered connector insertedtherein from out side the housing, said connector receiving portionhaving retaining portions at each end which extend outwardly forengagement with the base on opposite sides thereof, and an integralspring arm (intending upwardly from each connector portion, said springarms having free endsdisposed 1n spaced relation so as to be in positionto be encircled said cylindrical shorting means, and means slidable inthe housing to encircle said free endsto complete an electric circuittherebetween;

RALPH H.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the

